Today’s open practice – announced at a exaggerated 1,200 at Pace University in upper Westchester – was more of a show for the fans than a real workout – lots of alley-oop passes and 3-point aerial shows.

Don’t understand why the Knicks chose Pace instead of finding a college in the five boroughs or Long Island to be accessible to more of their fans, especially the inner-city kids. Pace is almost by the Connecticut border. The Knicks have held it at St. John’s and Hofstra and that’s a more sensible spot.

Quentin Richardson hit the shot of the day, a hook from halfcourt. “Do it in the game,” a fan yelled. So far, Richardson hasn’t and I have a feeling D’Antoni still has his eye on Danilo Gallinari being the starting small forward before the season is over.

D’Antoni tried to lessen the chances of Gallinari playing games for the D-League’s Reno Big Horns, possibly after seeing Danilo being opposed to going.

Gallinari did some running drills with the team today. One issue that would make the Knicks want him with them even if he’s sitting on the bench is they want the medical staff around him to monitor his back.

D’Antoni believes Gallinari will compete for a rotational spot in two months and there’s no thoughts of making him a PF his rookie year. “I see him as a small forward,” D’Antoni said. “I don’t think his body can take the beating right now. I see him out on the perimeter.”

Zach Randolph has improved his range to the 3-point line this season, but took way too many treys today during the quasi-scrimmage in which the Knicks went high-tempo on every possession.

“I told Zach Pace University wanted to retire his jersey because he had more 3–point shots in the history of Pace,” Mike D’Antoni said. “He kind of got in the spirit of an open practice.”

Tomorrow the Knicks face the Nets at the arena once known as The Meadowlands with the team’s preseason record at 2-2. At this juncture, D’Antoni is much less worried about the offense than the defense. It’s nice to hear D’Antoni talk defense. During Camp Saratoga, I can’t remember him using the word. He seems on a mission to wipe away his no-D reputation.

It takes great stamina to play at their pace and still defend each possession with ferocity. So far, the Knicks haven’t been up to par on the defensive end.

Malik Rose, whose having a good enough camp that he could be the ninth man in the rotation because of his defensive knowhow, believes the biggest problem is teammates aren’t trusting each other enough. In other words, a player doesn’t feel he can cover another player’s man whose gotten open because he feels nobody will cover for him.